Louisiana is full of warm smiles of hospitality, decadent seafood, a unique ecosystem, and a diverse cultural identity.
As a kid, I was lucky to spend many vacations in this lively state with my family. I always look forward to coming back here, mainly for the crawfish!
So, keep reading to find out the best places to visit in Louisiana!
1. The Atchafalaya Basin
The Atchafalaya Basin is the biggest wetland and swampland in the United States!
I know hanging out at the swamp doesn’t sound too appealing, but it can be exciting to explore a different ecosystem and look for the wildlife and plant life that inhabit the area.
Atchafalaya is huge and packed full of fun activities that will help you do just that! Just make sure to carry bug spray, or your trip will get uncomfortable pretty fast.
The Atchafalaya Basin visitor center is a great place to start exploring. It is located off I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Here, you’ll find all of the information to plan your trip!
One of the most popular things to see in Louisiana is the sweeping views of the Atchafalaya Basin. You can only find these effortless views on a swamp tour.
This is a fun way to spot alligators, moss-draped cypress trees, and so many types of birds. This exciting excursion is also one of the best ways to explore some of the oldest forests in Louisiana.
Also, the Atchafalaya Basin is home to so many incredible hikes! The Indian Bayou area is a great place to start exploring. There are 12 trails in the Indian Bayou, and they are located less than 10-miles from the visitor center.
The Alligator Trail is the best trail to spot, you guessed it, alligators! The Indian Bayou Trail is another trail that shows off impressive views of the mossy bayou.
2. The French Quarter, NOLA
New Orleans is bursting with history, and could compete against Boston or Philadelphia any day.
New Orleans was once owned by the French and the Spanish before the land was sold to the United States. The French Quarter is full of historical Spanish architecture, restaurants that preserve local identities, open street markets, and of course the notorious Bourbon Street!
While I’ve spent my share of long nights on Bourbon Street, there is more to do than eat and drink around here. Though if that is all you want to do, you’ll be happy to know you have a lot of options!
New Orleans is home to many exquisite restaurants that focus on a variety of different foods and cultures. Louisiana is truly America’s first melting pot, mixing French and European, Haitian, Canadian, African, and Native American cultures to create a unique atmosphere.
Visit one of New Orleans most traditional restaurants, Cafe du Monde, for a Louisiana Beignet. The outdoor seating is reminiscent of Parisian cafes and is a comfortable spot for people watching.
The Olde Nola Cookery is a great spot for delicious, local food. Cajun style cooking is legendary in the South, and there is nowhere better to try it than here where it’s fresh. Make sure to try the crawfish etouffee- It’s to die for!
And of course, there are some fantastic bars on Bourbon Street. How else would it get its reputation as one of the best nightlife spots in the world?
Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub is a very small, intimate bar that hosts authentic jazz music from some of New Orleans’ most talented. If you are looking for somewhere to let loose, check out the World Famous Cat’s Meow, a rowdy karaoke bar with great drink specials.
And if your goal is to simply wander and admire the beauty of the French Quarter, don’t miss Jackson Square, where you can listen to jazz band street buskers while admiring the stunning Pontalba Buildings or Royal Street, which is home to gorgeous Spanish architecture, lovely balconies with lush plants and flowers, art galleries and antique stores.
Also, be sure to check out the French Market, and be ready to spend a lot more than you plan to. The upriver side of the market hosts artist stalls with hand-crafted art and food stalls, and the downriver side with many vendors selling all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs.
3. Grand Isle
Louisiana isn’t all swampland!
Grand Isle is a barrier island that sits off Louisiana’s coast, offering enchanting views of the Gulf of Mexico. The island is by far one of the most relaxing places to visit in Louisiana!
Grand Isle is Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island. It is a friendly, slow-paced community that hosts many bed and breakfasts, fresh seafood restaurants and peaceful beach campgrounds.
There is plenty to do here in Sportsman’s Paradise! Spend the day relaxing on Grand Isle’s white sand beaches or exploring the marshes and cypress trees by kayak. Charter fishing is also popular on Grand Isle, as well as bird watching along the Grand Isle Birding/Nature Trail.
At the east end of the island is Grand Isle State Park, famous for its 400-foot long fishing pier. There are plenty of nature trails here, as well as campsites and RV sites. Many of these sites conveniently offer WI-FI.
I’ve spent many summer nights cozied up by the fire with my family, falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing. Grand Isle is one of the best vacation spots in Louisiana, especially for families or couples who appreciate the simple joys of nature.
4. Jungle Gardens
The Jungle Gardens is a beautiful and serene getaway in Southern Louisiana.
Tickets for the Jungle Gardens are $9.50 for a self-guided tour, and they can be purchased online.
The trail around Jungle Gardens is a 3-mile walk or drive. As you walk, keep your eyes peeled for alligators, water fowl, and turtles! The Jungle Gardens is also a bird sanctuary, and there are plenty around.
The Jungle Gardens is home to grand, moss draped trees, colorful, tropical flowers, stunning architecture, and so much wildlife! There are many fun attractions to spot as you walk the trail, such as the Buddha statue and an impressive bamboo forest.
After exploring the Jungle Gardens, be sure to check out the nearby Tabasco Factory to learn about the history of this famous hot sauce! This is definitely one of the more unique places to visit in Louisiana, so don’t miss it!
5. Cypress Island Preserve
Cypress Island Preserve sits along the serene Lake Martin, and it is one of the easiest sections within the Atchafalaya Basin to drive to.
Cypress Island Preserve protects a swampy ecosystem that holds a variety of native plants and nesting colonies.
These nesting colonies are visited by unique water birds like the pink Roseate Spoonbill or the White Ibis. Lake Martin also has a large amount of alligators, turtles, snakes, and lizards.
Follow Rookery Road along the Lake and keep an eye out for wildlife! Alligators especially tend to blend in with their surroundings and can be hard to find. Look for cars that are pulled over or people with binoculars- they’re most likely looking at something interesting!
At the south end of the lake, there is the visitor center and a 2.5-mile boardwalk trail. The boardwalk, open from fall to spring, heads over the swamp.
This trail is another great place to spot wildlife. As you walk, be sure to watch your feet for snakes or alligators! They are not usually aggressive, but stepping on them may change that.
5. Baton Rouge’s Riverwalk
No other river in the United States holds as much historical significance as the Mighty Mississippi.
The Riverwalk in Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge, is an awesome tribute to the history of America’s largest river.
Take a stroll or jog and admire the one of a kind beauty of the sweeping Mississippi river. Watch the boats go by, admire the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, or watch the mesmerizing sunsets.
As you walk, you’ll notice many unique attractions, museums, and historical monuments. One of the best places to visit in Louisiana, the USS KIDD museum, is a popular spot along the riverwalk. The historical battleship and museum is open daily and even offers overnight camping options in the WWII-era battleship.
North of the USS KIDD is Louisiana’s old state capitol. This beautifully built castle was turned into a museum, preserving Louisiana’s political history. Even further north is the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.
You’ll find yourself thinking of Chicago when you see Baton Rouge’s reflective “bean.” The sculpture is actually called “Sing the River,” and it plays music that corresponds with the rise and fall of the river water. It even lights up at night!
Which is all the proof that I need to tell you that the Baton Rouge Riverwalk is so much more fun at night. It is beautifully lit up after dark, and there are plenty of places to grab something to eat or drink.
6. The Whitney Plantation
The Whitney Plantation is about 45-minutes west of New Orleans, and it is the only remaining plantation in Louisiana that has an exclusive focus on educating people about the history of slavery.
The plantation is open Wednesday through Monday. Visitors can choose between a self-guided tour or a 1.5-hour guided tour, both which can be bought online.
The German Coast, where the plantation is located, was home to a significant amount of slaves from Africa and the Caribbean. Many plantations grew wealthy from what they saw as an incoming source of free labor.
Many slaves ran away from the horrid and often deadly treatment. Louisiana’s vast swamplands provided a place for freedom-seekers to lay low and travel north. Those that stayed were forced to work sun-up to sun-down, harvesting crops like cotton, indigo, rice, and sugarcane.
At the Whitney Plantation, take a walk back in time to a tragic part of United States history and learn more about slavery and how it benefited the plantation owners at the Whitney Plantation. Explore the many buildings that have been preserved to replicate history.
The Slave Cabins are a humbling site, as well as the Big House, which was where slaves who performed housekeeping duties or raised the children would stay. Don’t miss the Children of the Whitney sculpture, where you will read first-hand accounts of children living on the plantation.
7. Oak Alley Plantation
The Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most popular places to visit in Louisiana, and it’s a great place for those looking for the inside scoop on the state’s history.
Oak Alley is yet another plantation and is known for its ancient live oak trees and beautiful scenery. They also offer history tours in the slavery exhibit and the Oak Alley Big House.
Tickets are required when visiting the Oak Alley plantation, and they can be purchased online. Visitors can choose between the admission without the Big House exhibit, or admission with the Big House exhibit.
If you choose to participate in the Big House exhibit, keep in mind that you must arrive at the Big House 30-minutes before your designated tour time.
The East and West gardens have been valued for hundreds of years as manicured, formal gardens. Spread with mature trees and decorative gardens, it is a gorgeous place to wander, take photos, and learn about the cultural history of the gardens.
The alley of oaks is the spot at Oak Alley that everybody comes to see! Make sure to arrive early to be able to get a good shot without the crowds.
The trees form a lush, green tunnel in front of the mansion. It is obvious why so many people come to see Oak Alley!
8. The Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historic Park
There are many different sections of Jean Lafitte Preserve. The Barataria Preserve section is just outside of New Orleans, and it holds a multitude of trails, picnic areas, and fishing spots.
Visit the Barataria Preserve visitor center for useful maps and field guides, insect repellant, books, and souvenirs. By the visitor center parking lot, there is the Visitor Center Trail. This short boardwalk trail is only a quarter-mile long and it showcases a beautiful marsh view at the end of the trail.
Continue further down Barataria Boulevard to reach the Bayou Coquille Trail and the Palmetto Trail. These boardwalk trails are located on opposite sides of the parking lot, and they both are currently being rebuilt after Hurricane damage.
As of March 2023, you will be able to continue roughly 0.5-miles into each trail before turning back. Nonetheless, both trails offer an interesting look into the ecosystem of the bayou and the sub-tropical plants and reptiles that call the bayou home.
If you are looking for an educational experience, visit the Barataria Preserve Wednesday through Sunday at 10am. Meet with the rangers outside of the visitor station to join the Wetlands Walk. The rangers will guide you along the boardwalk, talk about the wild Louisiana swamp, and spot wildlife.
9. NOLA City Park
I’ve made so many memories with my family at City Park. There’s no better place to spend time with loved ones!
The New Orleans City Park is an expansive area dedicated to recreation and conservation in an otherwise busy city. City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, and it holds the largest collection of mature live oaks in the world!
The park has a large variety of outdoor activities and it is the perfect spot for a picnic, a nice boat ride, or a stroll through the gardens. The magical botanical garden is the perfect place to start exploring,
The botanical garden is 10-acres long and hosts an impressive amount of exotic plants from around the world. The garden requires a $12 entry fee, though Louisiana residents get in for free on Wednesdays!
Besides a variety of beautiful plants, the garden also has a sculpture garden, a historic New Orleans train garden, and a Japanese garden.
If you’re traveling with kids (or if you’re a kid at heart,) you’ll be happy to know about the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. This amusement park has 18 unique rides and 2 cafes, ensuring the perfect day full of laughter and fun!
The Storyland Playground is another fun place for kids. This playground brings all of their favorite fairy tale characters to life, with 18 human sized fairy tale sculptures! I will say I loved this place as a kid, but now it’s a bit too creepy for my taste.
Finally, there are also many opportunities to get outdoors in City Park. There is a golf course, plenty of walking, boating, and biking trails, and even an equestrian farm. When you’re hungry, stop by Fillmore in the Oaks for a delicious meal, or the City Park Snoball Stand for a refreshing treat!
10. NOLA Garden District
The Garden District of New Orleans consists of many perfectly manicured lawns, beautiful mansions and universities, the Audubon park, and fantastic shopping along Magazine Street. There’s plenty to do, eat, see, and drink here!
The St. Charles Streetcar is a convenient way to get around the uptown attractions, such as the Audubon Zoo, Mardi Gras World, the Lafayette Cemetery, and more. These one of a kind experiences will get you feeling the spirit of New Orleans!
Mardi Gras World is open daily, so you can experience the Mardi Gras fun all year round- minus the drinking and street dancing. Learn how the giant Mardi Gras parade floats are made.
The National WWII Museum can also be found in the Garden District. If you go, I recommend stopping by the awesome 4-D theater!
One of the best things to do in the Garden District is to go for a walk and admire the beautiful homes that line the streets. Many of these homes hold deep history. If you’re into this kind of thing, there are also many ghost tours held in supposedly haunted mansions throughout the neighborhood.
11. New Orleans’ Lakefront View
The often overlooked Lake Pontchartrain waterfront is the best place to visit in Louisiana on a warm, sunny day.
Soak up the sunshine, watch the water birds, enjoy a picnic or a stroll, and enjoy one (or a few) of the fresh seafood restaurants lining the waterfront!
The Blue Crab has great seafood specials, like their oyster happy hour or their crawfish boils. Landry’s Seafood offers not only great food but spectacular views of the lake, on their terrace and inside the restaurant!
Fishing and boating are also popular activities on Lake Pontchartrain, whether you charter a boat or have your own to bring. For a relaxing day on the water, sign up for a Pleasure Cruise! The cruise also gives you an incredible view of the Causeway Bridge, which is the longest bridge in the United States.
Finally, many bars along the waterfront are known for serving authentic, New Orleans cocktails, some dating back to the 1800s! If you’re brave, try the Sazerac- the first cocktail ever invented! The Sazerac Restaurant is known for selling this potent drink, and has been since 1938.
Did we miss any of your favorite places in Louisiana?
Let us know in the comments if there are any more places in Louisiana that you would add to our list!